"Where is Callie," Brandon asked walking into the kitchen?

"She is out with Wyatt," Stef said not sure how her son was going to react to that.

"Oh."

One word answers were never a good sign from Brandon. He was usually a very expressive kid but whatever Wyatt came up or was around Brandon retreated into himself and getting a word from him was like trying to get blood from a stone.

"Did you need her for something?"

"No."

"All right well she should be back soon."

"Great," he mumbled heading upstairs.

"And guys say girls are moody," Stef said shaking her head at her sons antics.

Brandon went up to his room and retreated into his music. He put on his head phones and tried so hard to focus on the one thing that truly brought him joy. However, it didn't take him long to realize that just wasn't going to happen today. He couldn't focus on the keys and the feeling just wasn't flowing smoothly through him. Dejected he took off his headphones and tossed them on the desk.

He paced his room thinking about Callie and….him. He wondered what they were doing….if she was having fun with him….if he treated her right. He understood Callie's fear of being involved with him…even more so in light of recent events but he didn't want to pay for someone else's mistakes. He wasn't Liam and his moms wouldn't throw Callie out of the house. Even if they couldn't be together and they just had to remain friends he certainly didn't want her with someone else. Sure it was selfish but it was what he was feeling. Brandon didn't often act selfishly…in fact he usually went over and above for others….but not this time….he wasn't going to give up on her. She was worth it.

He heard the front door open and close and assumed it was her. He walked to the top of the step and saw her walk by and head into the kitchen….thankfully she was alone.

"Hey…where have you been," he asked casually walking into the kitchen and heading to the fridge even though he didn't want anything.

"Hey I was just out with Wyatt…we were just hanging out at the park," Callie said feeling the need to elaborate on just being out.

"Oh…it's a pretty nice day for that," he said having moved on from the fridge now playing with a bowl of fruit on the table.

"Yeah, I didn't want to stay inside on such a nice day."

"So are you like dating Wyatt," Brandon asked still trying to be casual about it.

"Umm no not really."

"Is it no or not really because they mean two very different things?"

"What is with the third degree today? Wyatt is just a nice guy I hang out with…someone that I have no pressure with."

"Are you saying I pressure you?"

"What? I never said that?"

"But you implied….

"I didn't imply anything…Wyatt is one of the few people are school that isn't totally freaked by my juive record or the fact I am a foster kid."

"Seems like he is more than just a friend," Brandon mumbled not sure if he actually wanted Callie to hear that.

"Sorry you are assuming stuff….and so what if he is? You dated Talya and I didn't act like this with you…in fact I took so much shit from her just so you wouldn't think badly about her….after all I am only temporary…no need to make too many waves when I am just passing through."

Callie almost regretted making that last comment. When she looked up at Brandon she could see the hurt in his eyes. However, he was the one currently attacking her. Without another word he grabbed a banana and left the kitchen.

"Boys," she mumbled and headed for the living room.

"Oh I am sorry I didn't know you were already in here," Callie said seeing Lena sitting on the couch flipping through a magazine.

"There is plenty of room," she said scooting over on the couch.

"I was going to watch TV I don't want to bother you."

"No worries I was just flipping through a magazine looking at some clothes….nothing that takes too many brain cells," she smiled.

Callie smiled and plopped down on the other side of the couch.

"How was your date with Wyatt," she asked hoping to spark a little conversation with her?

"It wasn't a date," she said quickly. "We just went to the park."

"Ok…ok so how was the park," she asked?

"It was good….nice out…lots of families around with their kids and dogs."

"Oh yeah….maybe next weekend we should all head down there. We haven't been to the park in a little while…there are some beach volleyball courts the Jesus loves taking advantage of….and well you have witnessed Stef's competitive streak."

"Yeah…has she always been that competitive?"

"For as long as I have known her….anything from sports and board games to who can reach the car first or find Waldo."

Callie looked at her confused.

"Waldo….Where's Waldo…you know the book you have to find the guy in different scenes."

"Can't say I have ever looked for Waldo."

"Man between you and Jude I am feeling old here," she laughed thinking back to the Beatles comment.

Callie reached for the TV remote and flipped it on. After flipping for a little while she stopped on a random show with no real intention of watching it….it just served as background noise as she tried to drown out her thoughts.

"Something you want to share," Lena asked as Callie huffed and shifted in her seat for the 5th time in as many minutes?

"I don't understand boys," Callie huffed out thinking back to her conversation with Brandon.

"Clearly I never did either," Lena smiled.

"Ohh right," Callie said with the sudden realization what she was talking about. "I guess you didn't," she laughed along with Lena.

"Is this about Wyatt," Lena asked hoping that question wouldn't shut her down?

"How did you meet Stef," Callie asked deflecting the previous question with something she had been curious about?

"You want to hear about the first time I met Stef," she questioned?

"Yeah….I mean if you want to tell me."

"Of course I will….its just most the kids roll their eyes every time Stef and I bring up a story."

Callie turned slightly towards Lena wanting to hear the story.

FLASHBACK

Stef was running around the apartment trying to get everything together while trying not to break down completely. Today Brandon was going to start preschool…her little boy was growing up too fast in her opinion. When she had signed Brandon up for preschool she was given a tour of the place met some of the teachers and the director, today though she would meet the teachers her son would have for the next year. After taking a few pictures at the house, a few pictures in the car and a few pictures outside of preschool Stef took her 3 year olds hand and walked into the building. She wanted badly to carry him but she was determined to treat him like a big boy.

"Are you excited for school B," Stef asked trying to keep her tone playful?

"I guess so," he said not really understand what was about to happen.

"Remember what I told you last night….you get to stay in a class room with a bunch of other kids and play and learn all sorts of cool stuff."

"You play wif me too," he asked looking up at her with the big brown eyes she fell in love with from day one?

"You don't want your old mom there when you're going to be making so many cool new little friends," she said hoping to avoid any waterworks.

"Where you go," he asked curiously?

"Well, I am going to work…remember where mama works at the police station?"

"Yeah with the lollipops," he said with a big smile.

"Yeah with the lollipops," Stef said laughing as her partner always had lollipops on his desk and Brandon always walked away with at least two.

"Will you bring me one?"

"If you're a good boy today I might be able to get you one ok."

"Ok."

"Well this is your class room," stef said stopping in front of the open door.

Brandon looked in and could already see some kids inside. Some were playing others were still clinging to their parents.

"Hi…are you in this class?"

Stef looked up from her son and was a little caught off guard.

"Ummm yes sorry I am Stef Foster and this is my son Brandon."

"Hi I am Lena Adams and I will be his lead teacher this year," she said shaking Stef's hand.

Brandon however shied away from this new woman and hid behind his mom's legs. Stef let out a small giggle at her son's sudden shyness. Lena was not surprised at all by his reaction, most kids clung to their parents for a little while until they felt safe. She bent down so she was Brandon's height before she spoke to him.

"Hey buddy…my name is Miss Lena. What is your name?"

"Brandon," he said looking up at his mom to make sure that was ok?

Stef just nodded and smiled hoping to encourage her son to open up a little.

"Brandon that is a great name. I see you have some trains on your shirt…do you like trains?"

"Yeah."

"Well, we have a whole train set in there with lots of different trains. Why you want go inside and play?"

Brandon's initial thought was definitely but then he thought about leaving his mom and hesitated.

"Mommy come play too," he asked?

"Well lets all go inside and see if we can introduce you to some new friends," Lena said slowly standing up and extending her hand for the little boy.

Brandon looked up at his mom and once again she nodded her approval. He slowly reached out and took the new ladies hand. They three walked inside and over to the train set where a couple other little boys were playing. Lena introduced them all and set Brandon up with a couple trains. It was not long before Lena and Stef were able to step away as Brandon was engrossed in his trains.

"You're really great with kids. How long have you been teaching pre-school," Stef asked genuinely curious but also hoping to get some more background info on this teacher.

"This will be my 3rd year with this pre-school…prior to this I did private day care and currently am back in school getting my Master's."

"Wow sounds like you have a full plate there."

"They keep me busy but I love teaching. What do you do for a living," she asked wanting to get to know the parents better.

"I am a police officer."

"Well that is very good to know we have a protect and serve on staff," she laughed.

"At your service," she smiled.

Lena smiled as she thought back to that first meeting. She never would have guessed than that Stef would be the one that would give her the large family she always dreamed of.

"So you were Brandon's pre-school teacher?"

"Yeah I ended up being his pre-school and kindergarten teacher."

"So you have known him since he was like little little."

"Since he was about three….Stef and I didn't get together until he was about 5 though."

"Did you….did you ummm always know…that you were gay," Callie asked hoping to not offend Lena?

"I have known for a while…probably since high school and I had very loving parents so I didn't feel the need to hide it although I didn't come out to them until my college years. Stef was a little different though obviously…she married Mike and had Brandon before she was ready to embrace what she was truly feeling."

"Did you ever date guys because you felt like it would be….safer," Callie asked not sure how to ask the question.

Lena wasn't sure what Callie was hoping to get out of this conversation but she was going to try and be as honest as possible in hopes that she get the answers she needed.

"I guess in the beginning I did. Even though I knew it didn't feel totally right I tried to blend in and just be like everyone else. It was high school and I know I am older than you but not much has changed as far as kids just wanting to be accepted and fit in."

Callie nodded her head in understanding.

"So even though you tried to date guys you weren't truly happy?"

"No I wasn't . I would say I was content but that only lasts for so long before you want something more. If you settle for something other than what you really want you're never going to be truly happy….you're going to have a lot of regret and resentment."

"And you're happy now with Stef and three kids?"

"No, I am happy now with Stef and five kids."

Lena wanted to make it very clear to Callie she was part of this family whether the court system saw it that way or not.

"You have to do what makes you happy in life….it is too short to live trying to please other people. You only get one shot spin around the world you have to make the most of it."

"Even when there are a million road blocks in the way of your happiness?"

"I know looking at an uphill battle alone can seem daunting but you get through one road block at a time with the help of family and friends….suddenly the mountain of obstacles turns into a hill and the obstacles are spaced further apart and when you get to the end you appreciate all you have been through and realize it was all worth it."

"Thanks."

Lena was glad she could help although she wasn't sure really what Callie was seeking. Callie grabbed the remote flipped the TV off and headed upstairs.

Callie knocked softly on the already open door and took a step inside the bedroom.

"What do you want," Brandon asked clearly frustrated?

"I want to be happy."